Have you been squinting all your life? Most people squint when they are in the sunlight. This is our eyes’ way of protecting itself from the harmful rays of the sun. Even on overcast days, we are getting sun damage. In fact, on overcast days, the UV damage is even greater because people tend to not wear eye protection and our pupils dilate larger allowing more of the harmful UV rays to enter our eyes. The ultraviolet rays from the sun cause damage slowly over time. This is one of the major causes of cataract formation in our eyes. This ultraviolet damage can increase the rate of eye disease including age related macular degeneration, skin cancer, yellowing of the conjunctiva (the whites of the eyes), and much more.
With the proper eye care and sun protection, we can prevent or postpone many eye diseases. If you start wearing sunglasses from an early age, you may be able to prevent some of the wrinkles around your eyes and nose. It is never too late to start. Most sunglasses, even designer sunglasses, can be changed into prescription sunglasses. The sunglasses that you find in most department stores are not optical quality. This means that they may not be able to be converted into prescription sunglasses. You can ask your optometrist to be certain. Even non-prescription sunglasses from department stores may not have the proper UV protection. Some of them are only dipped in a UV coating, which can easily scratch off, allowing the damaging UV through. In an optometry office the sunglasses have the proper UV protection because they are optical quality.
Annual eye examinations are recommended by the American Optometric Association if you are over the age of forty. Prior to forty, you should ask your optometrist, because it depends on your eye health and if you wear contacts or glasses. The first recommended eye examination is recommended by the age of 6 months. There are many tests that optometrists can perform on infants. We check for symmetry in the prescription between the two eyes, check for correct eye alignment, any early diseases, and much more.
Remember it is never too early to start taking care of your eyes. We all need great eye protection.
For more information, please call Dr. Carol Aivazian of 20/20 Optometric Eyecare at 661-287-3939.